Solomon
calls his students to turn their ears to his teachings and listen with all
their attention.This is a very
important message that needs to be heard, understood and applied by all.Solomon now gives his students six lessons they
are to learn from this case study….

“My little children, these
things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”(1 John 2:1)

25) Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her
paths.

Solomon
shares two keys to victory in times of temptation…

1.
Do not all your desires to move downward and crave to follow her course of
living.

If
we guard our desires and always keep our minds on Christ and His will for us we
will not chose to follow unrighteousness.Sin can only take place when desire and opportunity cross paths.

2.Do not wander from the Lord’s path and wander
into the path of sin.

If
we diligently follow the path of the Lord we will, automatically, not enter the
path of the corrupt.It is only when we
let our guard down, and allow ourselves to drift from the Lord’s will, that we
become susceptible to temptation’s onslaught.

“Therefore all things
whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this
is the law and the prophets.Enter ye in at the strait
gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:Because strait [is] the
gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that
find it.”(Matthew 7:12-14)

26) For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong [men] have been slain by her.

Solomon
shares two facts about the power of temptation…

3.Temptation is able to put down those who are
weaker in the faith and who have been wounded by her in times past.

In
other words, those who are babes in Christ and those who have been previously
overcome by temptation need to take special care and have others help them as
they face their current enticement to sin.

4.Temptation can be so powerful it can even bring
to ruin those who are strong in the faith and previously victorious over her
allurements.

No
one is impervious to the appeal of temptation.Everyone, when not guarded, can be overcome.No one can take temptation lightly.

“Dearly beloved, I beseech [you]
as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the
soul;”(1 Peter 2:11)

27) Her house [is] the way to
hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Solomon
teaches us two truths about the results of following temptations path.

5.Submitting to her authority and following her
lead (as children submit and follow their parents) is a sure pathway to destruction
(ineffectiveness and judgment).

6.Not only does her way lead to ruin but also
to death, both physical and eternal death.

“Enter ye in at the strait
gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth
unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

SUMMARY:

By
examining these six basic lessons that can be learned from our case study we
can see the need to always be on guard against the workings of sin in our lives…

1.
Do not all your desires to move downward and crave to follow her course of
living.

2.Do not wander from the Lord’s path and wander
into the path of sin.

3.Temptation is able to put down those who are
weaker in the faith and who have been wounded by her in times past.

4.Temptation can be so powerful it can even bring
to ruin those who are strong in the faith and previously victorious over her
allurements.

5.Submitting to her authority and following her
lead (as children submit and follow their parents) is a sure pathway to destruction
(ineffectiveness and judgment).

6.Not only does her way lead to ruin but also
to death, both physical and eternal death.

It
is only through temptation that sin can gain control of our lives and bring us
to ruin.

By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.

May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.

About Me

A retired pastor, Bible teacher and author of 20 years, he is currently ministering through Settled In Heaven Ministries. SIH Ministries is an on-line Bible teaching ministry that was founded by Bro Barkman in 2010.